The Spectrum
How to Customize a Way of Eating and Living Just Right for You and Your Family
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3.9 • 26 Ratings
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- $13.99
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
The Ornish Diet has been named the “#1 Best Heart-Healthy Diet” by U.S. News & World Report for seven consecutive years!
From the author of the landmark bestseller Dr. Dean Ornish’s Program for Reversing Heart Disease comes an empowering new program that teaches you how to lower high blood pressure, lose weight, lower your cholesterol, or reverse a major disease by customizing a healthy way of eating and living based on your own desires, needs, and genetic predispositions.
Dr. Dean Ornish revolutionized medicine by directing clinical research proving–for the first time–that heart disease and early-stage prostate cancer may be stopped or even reversed by his program of comprehensive lifestyle changes, without drugs or surgery. His newest research was the first to show that changing your lifestyle changes your genes in men with prostate cancer–“turning on” disease-preventing genes, and “turning off” genes that promote breast cancer, heart disease, and other illnesses, and in only three months. This study documented, also for the first time, that these lifestyle changes may significantly increase an enzyme that lengthens telomeres–the ends of your chromosomes that control how long you live. As your telomeres get longer, your life gets longer. Your genes are not your fate.
Featuring one hundred easy-to-prepare, delicious recipes from award-winning chef Art Smith, The Spectrum can make a powerful difference in your health and well-being.
Praise for The Spectrum
“In 1993, Hillary asked Dr. Dean Ornish to consult with us on improving our health and well-being and to train the chefs who cooked for us at The White House, Camp David, and Air Force One. I felt better and lost weight when I followed his recommendations. As this book illustrates, my genes may have been improving as well! If you want to see where medicine is likely to be five or ten years from now, read this book today.”—President Bill Clinton
“The Spectrum is absolutely fantastic. Time and again, Dr. Dean Ornish has scientifically proven that what was once thought to be medically impossible is, in fact, possible. His work is truly revolutionary.”—Mehmet Oz, M.D. Professor of Surgery & Director, Cardiovascular Institute, Columbia University Medical Center, and author of You: The Owner’ s Manual and You: On a Diet
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
First published in 1990, Dr. Dean Ornish's Program for Reversing Heart Disease presented scientific evidence that lifestyle changes alone can reverse even severe heart disease without surgery and medication. Subsequent research convinced Ornish that his program could be applied to other conditions with similar success. Ornish's philosophy has gained the respect of colleagues and patients, but critics say it is too difficult for many to sustain. Perhaps to counteract this notion, Ornish offers choices along a continuum of physical, mental and spiritual health. Marred somewhat by a defensive tone and repetition, the book shows readers how to tailor his recommendations to their needs, goals and preferences. Ornish's spectrum consists of nutrition (extremely low in fat, vegetarian), exercise (aerobic, resistance training and flexibility), stress management (yoga, meditation) and nurturing relationships, and he describes how they influence specific conditions. Recipes contributed by Oprah Winfrey's personal chef, Art Smith, ground Ornish's principles with dishes based on fresh, seasonal ingredients and ways to adapt them to a person's place along the spectrum. No doubt, putting Ornish's philosophy into practice is the best way to banish visions of the diet police. Given the research and heartfelt testimonials from patients reproduced here, the evidence is on Ornish's side.
Customer Reviews
Useful approach, important information nearly unreadable
Over the past decades, It has become obvious, that regardless of one's specific health complaint or goals, eating predominatly fruits, vegetables, legumes and grains is the correct diet. This leaves authors on this topic treading reduntantly.
However, science does deliver new studies in this field continuously and Dr. Ornish reports on how these reinforce the conclusions, and on some of his own investigations that he admits still need a proper scientific methodology applied.
Like the myriad of "how to do business" books a unique perspective on the topic is thematic enough to publish, and the approach here is quite useful. Instead of a dogmatic adherence to the correct way of eating, a means of emphasis is suggested. The reader is encouraged to move toward the most healthful way of eating, as they need or desire, along a "Spectrum" of choices.
Foods are grouped into five catagories along this spectrum and these are detailed over pages of charts that are nearly unreadable in this ebook edition.
Some of the food placements seem to reflect Dr. Ornish's preferences. Chocolate, which he begins his book with in a demonstration of his liberal approach, is listed in group 2 (second best) with a note that essentially says "in small amounts." Of course, "everything in moderation" is the essential approach extended in this book. Potatoes, with a high glycemic impact, are in group 1 (best) with no such admonishment. Sweet poatoes are a grain!
With great effort the crucial charts can be perused (double tap on each one and then expand the image in the new window, but the quality is very very poor and this helps but a little, tap done when finished and move on to the next chart, very tedious) and one can evaluate how healthful they are currently eating and choices for improvement. There are dozens of other foods I would like to have a group number for.
Ultimately, as the charts illustrate, what is the best diet for us huminoids? No real surprise there.